AG

She shows her ass up here whenever she needs something. I walked into 7, my mind racing. Destiny's presence was like a slap in the face after the intimate moment I'd just shared with Nova. I had to push aside my personal feelings and deal with this situation like a professional. She was leaning against the mixing board, her arms crossed, looking like a storm cloud ready to unleash.

"What do you want, Destiny?" I asked, keeping my voice level. She looked up at me, her eyes flashing with anger.

"I need to talk," she said, her voice low and dangerous. "Alone."

I sighed. This was going to be a battle. "okay" I said. "Talk."

As she approached, I couldn't help but notice the way she moved—confident, almost predatory. She was stunning, and she knew it, it was written all over her face. We entered the soundproof booth, the door closing with a solid thunk behind us.

"You've been avoiding me," she said, her voice like a whip crack. "I don't appreciate that."

"I've been busy," I replied, not bothering to hide my impatience. "What's so important that you had to barge in here?"

Her eyes narrowed, and she leaned in, her voice a seductive whisper. "You know what I want," she said, her hand sliding up my chest. I removed her hands off of me. "We've been over this already, Destiny." "What we used to do, is not happening anymore, you made your choice, and I accepted that shit."

Destiny stepped back, her smile cold and calculating. "So, you have a woman now?" She asked softly. My grin was wicked."I'm currently working on it." But that's none of your business, baby. " Again, what do you want?"

Her eyes flashed with something that could've been anger or hurt, but it was gone so fast, I couldn't tell. "I want you to produce my new album," she said, laying it out there like a poker player slapping down an ace.

"I'm booked," I replied, my voice firm. "But I can recommend some other producers who are just as good."

Destiny's smile turned into a sneer. "Don't play games with me, Artis," she hissed. "You know no one else can give me what you can."

"That's funny because that's all I keep hearing. You've gotten what I give from plenty... producers, artists, hell ...runners." I chortled.

Her jaw dropped.

"What the fuck did you just say to me?" she spat. I folded my arms across my chest, unmoved by her outburst. "You heard me." "Get out, Destiny." I said calmly, "I don't have time for this."

Destiny's eyes widened, her hand flying to her mouth as if she couldn't believe I'd just dismissed her like that. She straightened up, her posture rigid with anger. "Fuck you, Swim," she warned her voice like a serpent's hiss. "Never again," I said firmly, walking out of the studio. "Leave Destiny," I said over my shoulder. I sent Uno a text to make sure she leaves.

As I stepped out of 7, my heart was racing. The tension with Destiny was thick enough to cut with a knife, and I could feel the weight of what had just happened with Nova heavy on my shoulders. I took a deep breath, trying to compose myself, before heading back to her.

When I walked in, she was still there, her eyes glued to the soundboard. The air was charged with something unspoken. "Is everything okay?" she asked without looking up.

"Yeah," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. It was some bullshit." I walked over to her, placing my hand on her shoulder. "Come with me." I grabbed her hand and led her to my office.

Once we got in there, I locked the door and hit my red light. The room was plunged into a warm, intimate darkness, with only the glow of the city outside piercing through the windows. I turned to her, my heart racing. "Nova," I said, my voice thick with emotion. I need to tell you something."

Her eyes searched mine, looking for answers. "What is it?" she asked, her voice a whisper. I took a deep breath, the words heavy in my chest. "It's about Destiny," I began, watching for any signs of jealousy or anger in her expression. "We used to be...close," I admitted, the understatement hanging in the air like a fog.

"But it's over," I assured her, taking her hand in mine. "She's just...complicated." I squeezed her hand, willing her to understand. "What you see in the tabloids, the rumors—it's all bullshit. We're not together and haven't been together in damn near two years."

Nova looked down at our intertwined fingers, her thumb tracing circles on my palm. "But she's still in the picture," she said, her voice a mix of sadness and accusation. "Why?"

"Because she won't let go," I said, the frustration evident in my tone. "But I swear to you, Nova, there's nothing between us anymore."

I pulled her closer, feeling the warmth of her body against mine. "You're the one I want," I murmured, my eyes never leaving hers. "You're the one I've been waiting for."

Her gaze searched mine, looking for any hint of a lie. "But she's here," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "What does that mean?"

I sighed. "It means she's desperate," I said, my jaw tightening. And she'll do anything to get what she wants, including trying to ruin anything that makes me happy," I chuckled. "Don't worry."

Nova looked up at me, her eyes searching. "Thank you for being transparent," she said, her voice earnest. "It means a lot to me."

Her words hit me like a ton of bricks. It had been a long time since someone had appreciated my honesty, especially when it came to my personal life. "You're welcome," I said, my voice gruff. "I don't want any secrets between us."

I pulled her closer, feeling the softness of her body meld into mine. "I want us to be real," I whispered, my thumb tracing circles on her cheek. "No games. No bullshit."

She nodded. Nova slid off the chair and stood in between my legs, her movements as graceful as the music we'd been working on. She sat on my lap, her legs draped over one of the chair's arms, her ass pressing against my growing erection. I could feel her heart racing through her T-shirt, and it only made me want her more.

"Give me those gorgeous lips," I murmured, and she leaned in, her mouth a soft question against mine. I kissed her gently, tasting the sweetness of her breath, feeling the warmth of her body. Her hands slipped around my neck, and she deepened the kiss, her tongue sliding against mine.

All that mattered was the feel of her, the taste of her, the way she made me feel alive again. I held her closer, my hands sliding up her back, pulling her against me. I'm not going to fuck this up, this woman came into my life for a reason.

Her kiss grew more urgent, and I knew she felt it too—this connection that was more than just physical. It was like we were two halves of a whole, finally coming together after a lifetime apart. I groaned into her mouth, my need for her growing with every beat of my heart.

But even as the fire between us grew hotter, I knew we had to take it slow. We had to build something real, something that could withstand the storms that life threw our way. I pulled back, my eyes searching hers for understanding. "I don't want to rush this," I murmured, my thumb brushing against her bottom lip.

Nova's smile was soft and warm, enough to melt the coldest of hearts. "I know," she said, her voice a gentle whisper. But I can't deny that I want you, Artis."

"And I want you," I said, my voice a low growl. "More than you can imagine."

We sat there momentarily, breathing each other in, our eyes locked in a silent conversation that spoke volumes. Then, she leaned back and took my hand, lacing her fingers through mine. "Let's keep this between us," she said, her gaze intense. "For now."

I nodded, understanding what she meant. We couldn't let the outside world interfere with what we had. Not yet. "Agreed," I said, squeezing her hand. "Thank you baby for understanding"

Her smile grew, lighting up her entire face. "Of course," she said, her voice filled with a confidence that made my heart swell. "And I'm not looking for anything casual either." "The fact

With that, we stood, our bodies still humming with the electricity of our connection. I tucked my chain inside her shirt; she gasped. "Artis!" "That's cold," I chuckled. That ice is cold, baby." I chuckled. She's sporting my favorite, very expensive chain. She would have a fit if I told her she was walking around with one million dollars worth of diamonds around her neck. She'll be glued to my hip today, needless to say.

We walked out of the office; the tension between us was thick enough to cut with a knife. We didn't have any recordings scheduled for the rest of the day, and I couldn't help but feel relieved. The last thing I needed was to be distracted by Destiny's drama.

With her headphones on, Nova went back to work, lost in her music. I couldn't help but watch her from the control room. The way she moved to the beat, her fingers dancing over the soundboard, was mesmerizing. It was like watching a painter create a masterpiece. I found myself smiling, i seem to do that alot recently, especially when I'm near her.

As the hours ticked by, the studio grew quiet, the only sound the occasional hum of the equipment. I approached Nova, who was still absorbed in her work. She looked up at me, her eyes tired, but her passion for the music still burning bright. "You've been at it for hours," I said, my voice gentle. "Why don't you pack up and let's go?"

Her eyes searched mine for a moment before she nodded, standing up and stretching. She began gathering her things, and I couldn't help but admire how she moved—so confident yet so vulnerable. I stepped closer, my hand brushing against her arm. "Let me help you," I offered, and she handed me her bag, the warmth of her touch lingering on my skin.

As we walked through the hallways, the anticipation grew. I knew what I was about to do was bold, but I couldn't resist the pull she had on me. "You're coming home with me," I said, my voice low and filled with intention. She froze, her eyes wide. "What?" she whispered, the surprise clear in her voice.

"You heard me," I said, taking her hand and leading her out of the studio. She hesitated, but I could see the curiosity in her eyes. "Why?" she asked, and I gave her a knowing smile. "Because I want to spend time with you before I leave. I'm going out of town tomorrow, and I can't stand the thought of not seeing you before I go."

"I'll be here when you return, baby." She said softly. I smacked my teeth. "Well, can I at least take you home?" I said, trying to keep the annoyance out of my voice. "sure," she said, smiling.

The drive to her place was slower than usual, the city lights blurring as we took the scenic route. We talked about music, our favorite artists, and the tracks she'd been working on. Her laugh was like a melody, filling the car with a warmth that made me want to pull over and kiss her right there. But I knew I had to respect her wishes, even if it was killing me to hold back.

When we finally pulled up to her apartment, I walked her to the door, feeling the weight of the moment. "Thank you for today," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I had a good time." I leaned in, my hand on the small of her back, and kissed her forehead. "Me too," I murmured. "I'll miss you." She looked up at me with those big brown eyes. Her nose turned bright red. "I'll miss you too," she said sadly.

My chest tightened. I never felt like this before. I was always the one leaving.. gladly. Never have I been on the receiving end of this shit..this feeling. I want her by my side, in my lap, on my arm and in my bed at all times. She acts like she can take me or leave me, I gotta admit, I'm not used to this shit. I like the chase though.

"Tipping her chin up to look at me. "I'll be back before you know it." She nodded, but the hint of sadness didn't leave her eyes. "I know," she said, "Hurry up."

Without thinking, I leaned down and captured her lips with mine. It was gentle at first, but the passion between us grew with every second. Her arms wrapped around my neck, and I pulled her closer, deepening the kiss. Her body melted into mine. I inhaled her scent, "dang baby, I don't want to leave you," I murmured. She didn't say anything. "I gotta go before we stand here all night," I said, trying to lighten the mood.

I stepped back, and she opened the door to her apartment. With one last lingering look, she disappeared inside. I watched her until the door was closed. The drive back to the penthouse was a blur. My mind was racing with thoughts of her, her smell, her taste.

Once inside, I couldn't help but feel a little lonely without her. I decided to head straight to the shower, hoping the hot water would wash away the tension. As I undressed, my mind kept replaying our kiss, and I realized that I had made a mistake. I should have insisted her to stay with me tonight. I couldn't wait to be with her again, to explore the depths of our connection without the constraints.

Fuck.